Anything to keep in mind when buying a Sprint phone on Craigslist?

**livejamie** · 01-11-2012, 02:51 PM

I'm looking to buy a Galaxy S2 and I'm looking on Craigslist and eBay.

Sometimes the devices mention that they have a Good or Bad ESN. So I assume I should ask if the ESN is good, I assume? What happens to make an ESN bad? Will all sellers know if their ESN is bad or not?

Anything else to keep in mind?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

**irev210** · 01-11-2012, 02:59 PM

check the ESN (there are websites to do that) and make sure it is a CLEAN ESN if you want to use it on Sprint.

If it has a BAD ESN it WILL NOT work on Sprint.

**Aleki** · 01-11-2012, 05:06 PM

Ask them to meet you at a sprint store so you can be sure the ESN is clean. If they dont come with any accessories (at the very least have the charger), then you may be dealing with a stolen phone, possibly one that hasnt been reported yet

**stormchaser2003** · 01-11-2012, 05:56 PM

I agree with Aleki and go down to the local Sprint store in your area and see if the ESN is good or bad. Try to make sure it comes with all the stuff (power cord, usb cord, booklet, & the box with all the correct info) so this way it will help make you feel good that you are getting what you are paying for cuz money DOES NOT GROW ON TREES.

**billm261** · 01-11-2012, 08:53 PM

On eBay just buy from a reputable seller and you are covered by thier buyer protection service.

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**larryt510** · 01-12-2012, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by billm261

On eBay just buy from a reputable seller and you are covered by thier buyer protection service.

Yep. Picking a seller with a 100% positive feedback rating plus a long history of transactions always makes it a safer bet.

**dalbrich** · 01-12-2012, 01:37 PM

I agree with the others who have asked that you check the serial number (ESN) with Sprint first to make sure the phone is clear and ready to activate. There is more than one condition that can cause a bad ESN. The obvious one is theft, but also a huge unpaid cellular bill has the same effect. I'd guess you can take the ESN over the phone, call Sprint to Verify, then just make sure ESN is same before payment. The ESN is typically under the battery compartment on conventional cell phones. On iPhone one need look in the menus/software for the phone.

With regard to ebay, I agree with dealing with someone with 100% positive feedback. I would add, verify the seller has multiple feedbacks spanning more than one year... Actually read the feedback and look the list of what they have been selling.
i.e. watch for low-dollar, multiple positive transactions, all within 30 days etc.

Cell phones are a primary hobby for me, so I generally only deal in cell phones on ebay. I've been scammed. I suspect this would be much less likely to happen with any other item. It's like bike theft in a college town, cell phones are of particularly high risk, so caution is advised.

-Dan

PS: I'm at a point now, where I *only* bid on new in box cell phones. I don't do used at all. More than once I've received a used unit that was awful. One dirty cell phone (gross) with an alpha tag "Joey's Sh..." - You get the idea. The picture was stock, so the picture looked perfect, what I received in the mail was literally gross. I also had someone take my money and run before ebay had buyer protection, and one other time I used buyer protection successfully to get my money back when the product never arrived.

**monkeyboy** · 01-12-2012, 04:19 PM

there is NO guarantee that an ESN is clear, will remain clear, etc UNLESS you ACTIVATE the phone on your account. Therefore, to be 100% sure, you must meet your seller at a Sprint store and activate it BEFORE handing over the money.

it is not enough that you call Sprint and ask if an ESN is clear: 1) it could become not clear later, 2) Sprint CS has been known to make mistakes (and you *will* be stuck even if they give you wrong info).

the website ESN check is VERY good: www.***************** and if you can get the ESN, by all means check it there just to give you an early confirmation or warning. But again, it is NO guarantee of anything.

Yes, ebay is good because it is very pro-buyer now. You can get your money back, something that is very difficult with a CL transaction...

**Psyborg** · 01-25-2012, 02:24 PM

If you buy through Craigslist, bring a body guard.

**huntm856** · 01-27-2012, 10:31 AM

I've bought my last two phones via cl, met the seller at a Sprint store in both cases, and had no issues. This said, I wouldn't do business with anyone who wasn't willing to meet at a store.

**parrott84** · 01-27-2012, 09:25 PM

Buying a phone and getting stuck is the worst, however, there are now options to get your bad esn cleaned if needed. It doesn't change the esn or the phone, it's just having sprint clean them. I know, people are going to say it can't be done, but I paid $30 to have it done and it worked like a charm. It only took a couple days and I could use the phone that previously had a bad esn. So, if worst comes to worst and you get stuck give me a pm and I will help you out.

**capntang** · 01-29-2012, 03:28 PM

Don't want to hijack this thread, but my question is similar enough that I don't want to start a new one, either.

I'm on T-Mobile, but my brother is on Sprint and needs a new phone. I was going to buy him a phone off Craigslist, but the possibility of being scammed and ending up with a blocked phone leaves me hesitant.

The current owner of the phone in question is willing to meet at the Sprint store to activate it on the spot and sounds legit. Just to be sure - if Sprint is able to activate the phone on my brother's account immediately, can it be blocked later on for any reason, or is it a pretty safe bet once it's activated on his account?

**Nucleartx** · 01-29-2012, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by capntang

Don't want to hijack this thread, but my question is similar enough that I don't want to start a new one, either.

I'm on T-Mobile, but my brother is on Sprint and needs a new phone. I was going to buy him a phone off Craigslist, but the possibility of being scammed and ending up with a blocked phone leaves me hesitant.

The current owner of the phone in question is willing to meet at the Sprint store to activate it on the spot and sounds legit. Just to be sure - if Sprint is able to activate the phone on my brother's account immediately, can it be blocked later on for any reason, or is it a pretty safe bet once it's activated on his account?

Pretty safe bet. By doing so, shows the phone is not tied to another account and was in working condition.

**NGeorge** · 01-30-2012, 03:27 PM

I've never heard of Sprint being able (er offering to do it--it isn't really a matter of "being able to") clean the ESN--can anyone back up the OP's claims?

I *have* heard of Sprint phones with bad ESNs being able to be activated on some third teir MVNO's (e.g. Zapp Unlimited) but that isn't really the same thing--as much as some of these carriers have killer deals, I haven't been able to flip the switch on one yet since I see thoughts of the company suddenly going dark, along with my 12+ year number.

--Nat

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